U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent on Tuesday joined the lineup of lawmakers urging Congress to "take a deep breath" and consider all options before going ahead with a $700 billion plan to bail out Wall Street.

The 15th District Republican, in a conference call with reporters, said the response he is hearing from constituents about the plan "is a combination of fear and anger" and he is not ready to give the administration "that kind of authority."

Dent's comments came on a day when lawmakers listened first-hand to the rationale from the administration for the massive proposal, which would essentially give the Treasury department unfettered power to spend $700 billion to buy troubled mortgages. The Senate Banking Committee heard from Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Vice president Cheney was among those who addressed the House Republican Conference, and the response was less than gentle, Politico reported.

Dent said lawmakers should convene various economic experts to sound off on what should be done to deal with the economic meltdown. He said forced resignations of executives at firms involved in the bailout must be part of any bailout package.

"I would have to think we are going to have to see some resignations," he said.